1. Mission: Promoting Healthier Lives Through Research and
Education in Nutrition and Preventive Medicine P B R C P u b # 6 0
To promote healthier lives through research and education in
nutrition and preventive medicine.
The Pennington Center has several research areas, including:
Exercise and
Epidemiology and Prevention
Physical Activity and Health
Cancer
Diabetes
Your Heart
Obesity
Neurodegeneration
Genomics and Molecular Genetics
Stem Cell and Developmental Biology
Pennington Biomedical Research Center
Neurobiology
Nutrient Sensing and Signaling
6400 Perkins Road
The research fostered in these areas can have a profound im-
pact on healthy living and on the prevention of common chron- Baton Rouge, LA 70808
ic diseases, such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes,
hypertension and osteoporosis. 225-763-3000
The Division of Education provides education and
Visit Our Website at:
information to the scientific community and the public about
research findings, training programs and research areas, and www.pbrc.edu
coordinates educational events for the public on various health
issues.
We invite people of all ages and backgrounds to participate in PNS Pub No 60 2009
the exciting research studies being conducted at the
Pennington Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. If you would Authors
like to take part, visit the clinical trials web page at Beth Kalicki
www.pbrc.edu or call (225) 763-3000.
Pennington Biomedical
Heli J. Roy, PhD, RD
Research Center
Division of Education
Pennington Biomedical Research Center
8/10

2. The Facts About Exercise improves insulin, blood glu- strength.
Exercise and Your Body cose, cholesterol, and lipid levels,
reduces inflammation in the arteries,
Types of anaerobic exercise are
weight lifting and short sprints.
and improves weight loss
maintenance. Getting ready to exercise:
Exercise helps to keep blood vessels Be sure to wait at least 1 1/2 hours
flexible and free of fatty deposits. after eating a meal before exercising.
For the greatest amount of heart Begin to drink water before you
protection, it is not the duration of exercise, and continue during the
your exercise session that matters, but exercise session. This can prevent
Risks of inactivity: dehydration.
the total amount of energy expended
Inactivity is a major risk factor for in a day. Make sure to wear appropriate
coronary artery disease. clothing to allow air circulation and
Men can cut their risk for stroke in
half if they exercise from 30 to 60 to prevent overheating.
Inactivity can lead to high insulin
levels, insulin resistance and minutes five days a week. Wear comfortable shoes, particularly
abdominal obesity. Types of exercises: for any aerobic activity.
Benefits of exercise: Avoid exercising in high heat and
Aerobic exercise strengthens the heart
Everyone benefits from physical activ- and lungs, thus improving the body’s humidity. High humidity can make
ity, especially patients with heart ability to use oxygen. you tire more quickly and extreme
failure. temperatures may interfere with
Examples of aerobic exercise include:
circulation.
Physical activity, along with a low fat walking, jogging, jumping rope,
diet, are the two most successful bicycling, skating, or water aerobics.
means of maintaining heart healthy
Aerobic exercise can help to decrease
fitness and weight.
heart rate and blood pressure at rest,
Exercise helps to improve heart as well as improving lung function.
health and may even be able to
Anaerobic exercise is intense, very
reverse some of the risk factors for
short duration and used to build
heart disease.